# 2022 Houston Dynamo FC season

The 2022 Houston Dynamo season was the 17th season of the team's existence since joining Major League Soccer (MLS) prior to the 2006 season. It was the first season with head coach Paulo Nagamura, who was hired on January 3. 2022 was the Dynamo's first full season under General Manager Pat Onstad, who was hired with 1 game remaining in the 2021 season. Asher Mendelsohn was hired as technical director on January 3.
On January 18, the Dynamo made the most expensive signing in club history, signing Paraguayan striker Sebastián Ferreira from Club Libertad. On March 2, the Dynamo made the highest-profile transfer in club history, signing Mexican international Héctor Herrera from Atlético Madrid to a pre-contract agreement.
On September 5, with the team last in the Western Conference through 29 games and having just 2 wins in the last 13 games, Paulo Nagamura was fired as head coach. Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy was named interim head coach for the final 5 games, playing to a 2-2-1 record. The Dynamo ended the season 13th in the conference, missing the playoffs for the 5th consecutive season and the 8th time in 9 years.
On the front office end, it was Ted Segal's second season (first full season) as majority owner and John Walker's fourth and final season as President of Business Operations. On June 14, Walker announced he would step down following the season. On August 25, Ted Segal bought the remaining shares owned by Oscar De La Hoya, Gabriel Brener, and Ben Guill. Lyle Ayes also joined the ownership group

## Current squad

    As of October 10, 2022
Appearances and goals are totals for MLS regular season only.
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||
| 12 | Steve Clark | GK | April 14, 1986 (age 36) | Portland Timbers | 2022 | 33 | 0 |
| 26 | Michael Nelson | GK | February 10, 1995 (age 27) | Southern Methodist University | 2018 | 13 | 0 |
| 38 | Xavier Valdez (HGP) | GK | November 23, 2003 (age 18) | Houston Dynamo Academy | 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders |||||||||
| 2 | Daniel Steres | DF | November 11, 1990 (age 31) | LA Galaxy | 2022 | 18 | 2 |
| 3 | Adam Lundqvist | DF | March 20, 1994 (age 28) | IF Elfsborg | 2018 | 121 | 0 |
| 4 | Zarek Valentin | DF | August 6, 1991 (age 31) | Nashville SC | 2020 | 53 | 0 |
| 5 | Tim Parker | DF | February 23, 1993 (age 29) | New York Red Bulls | 2021 | 62 | 0 |
| 13 | Ethan Bartlow (GA) | DF | February 2, 2000 (age 22) | University of Washington | 2021 | 15 | 0 |
| 17 | Teenage Hadebe (DP) | DF | September 17, 1995 (age 27) | Yeni Malatyaspor | 2021 | 39 | 2 |
| 25 | Griffin Dorsey | DF | March 5, 1999 (age 23) | Toronto FC | 2021 | 47 | 3 |
| 29 | Sam Junqua | DF | November 9, 1996 (age 25) | University of California | 2019 | 46 | 1 |
| 37 | Zeca | DF | May 16, 1994 (age 28) | Vasco da Gama | 2022 | 20 | 0 |
| Midfielders |||||||||
| 8 | Memo Rodríguez (HGP) | MF | December 27, 1995 (age 26) | Rio Grande Valley FC | 2017 | 136 | 17 |
| 16 | Héctor Herrera (DP) | MF | April 19, 1990 (age 32) | Atlético Madrid | 2022 | 10 | 0 |
| 20 | Adalberto Carrasquilla | MF | November 28, 1998 (age 23) | Cartagena | 2021 | 42 | 3 |
| 22 | Matías Vera | MF | October 26, 1995 (age 26) | San Lorenzo | 2019 | 108 | 3 |
| 24 | Darwin Cerén | MF | December 31, 1989 (age 32) | San Jose Earthquakes | 2018 | 109 | 3 |
| 27 | Marcelo Palomino (HGP) | MF | May 21, 2001 (age 21) | Houston Dynamo Academy | 2020 | 3 | 0 |
| 32 | Juan Castilla (HGP) | MF | July 27, 2004 (age 18) | Houston Dynamo Academy | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 35 | Brooklyn Raines (HGP) | MF | March 11, 2005 (age 17) | Barça Residency Academy | 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Forwards |||||||||
| 7 | Thiago Fernandes (U22) | FW | March 13, 2001 (age 21) | Flamengo | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | Sebastián Ferreira (DP) | FW | February 13, 1998 (age 24) | Club Libertad | 2022 | 31 | 13 |
| 10 | Fafà Picault | FW | February 23, 1991 (age 31) | FC Dallas | 2021 | 61 | 18 |
| 11 | Corey Baird | FW | January 30, 1996 (age 26) | Los Angeles FC | 2021 | 30 | 2 |
| 21 | Nelson Quiñónes | FW | August 20, 2002 (age 20) | Once Caldas | 2022 | 8 | 0 |
| 23 | Darwin Quintero | FW | September 19, 1987 (age 35) | Minnesota United FC | 2020 | 73 | 19 |
| 33 | Danny Ríos (HGP) | FW | March 29, 2003 (age 19) | Houston Dynamo Academy | 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Thorleifur Úlfarsson (GA) | FW | December 27, 2000 (age 21) | Duke University | 2022 | 31 | 4 |
| 45 | Beto Avila | FW | October 16, 2000 (age 21) | Houston Dynamo 2 | 2022 | 8 | 0 |

## Player movement
### In

Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.
| Date | Player | Position | Age | Previous Club | Notes |
| December 12, 2021 | Daniel Steres | DF | 31 | LA Galaxy | Acquired in exchange for a 3rd round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. The Galaxy will retain a portion of the salary budget charge in 2022. |
| December 22, 2021 | Steve Clark | GK | 35 | Portland Timbers | Signed on a free transfer. |
| January 18, 2022 | Sebastián Ferreira | FW | 23 | Club Libertad | Signed as a Designated Player. Transfer fee undisclosed, but is rumored to be $4.3 million. |
| February 4, 2022 | Brooklyn Raines | MF | 16 | Barça Residency Academy | Signed as a homegrown player. Acquired his homegrown rights from Real Salt Lake for $50,000 in GAM. |
| February 10, 2022 | Zeca | DF | 27 | Vasco da Gama | Signed on a free transfer. |
| February 27, 2022 | Xavier Valdez | GK | 18 | Houston Dynamo Academy | Signed as a homegrown player. Acquired his homegrown territory rights from NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls for $50,000 in GAM each. |
| March 2, 2022 | Héctor Herrera | MF | 31 | Atlético Madrid | Signed as a Designated Player on a free transfer, contract effective July 1, 2022 |
| March 21, 2022 | Thiago Fernandes | FW | 21 | Flamengo | Signed on loan for the 2022 season with an option to buy. Signed as a U-22 Initiative player. |
| May 6, 2022 | Beto Avila | FW | 21 | Houston Dynamo 2 | Promoted from reserve team. |
| May 10, 2022 | Adalberto Carrasquilla | MF | 23 | Cartagena | Exercised the purchase option in the loan. Transfer fee undiscloed but is reportedly close to $2 million. |
| July 27, 2022 | Nelson Quiñónes | FW | 19 | Once Caldas | Signed on a 12-month loan with an option to buy. |

### Out

| Date | Player | Position | Age | Destination Club | Notes |
| November 30, 2021 | José Bizama | DF | 27 | Palestino | Contract option declined |
| November 30, 2021 | Maynor Figueroa | DF | 38 | retired | Contract option declined |
| November 30, 2021 | Erik McCue | DF | 20 | AB Argir | Contract option declined |
| November 30, 2021 | Marko Marić | GK | 25 | Atromitos | Contract option declined |
| November 30, 2021 | Kyle Morton | GK | 27 | Louisville City | Contract option declined |
| November 30, 2021 | Maximiliano Urruti | FW | 30 | Austin FC | Contract option declined |
| November 30, 2021 | Alejandro Fuenmayor | DF | 25 | Oakland Roots | Contract expired |
| November 30, 2021 | Boniek García | MF | 37 | Olimpia | Contract expired |
| December 16, 2021 | Ariel Lassiter | FW | 27 | Inter Miami CF | Traded for $100,000 in GAM. |
| February 21, 2022 | Joe Corona | MF | 31 | GIF Sundsvall | Waived |
| March 9, 2022 | Derrick Jones | MF | 25 | Charlotte FC | Traded along with $50,000 in 2023 GAM for $250,000 in 2022 GAM. |
| April 26, 2022 | Nico Lemoine | FW | 22 | | Waived |
| August 5, 2022 | Tyler Pasher | FW | 28 | New York Red Bulls | Waived |

### Loans out

| Date | Player | Position | Age | Destination Club | Notes |
| January 28, 2022 | Mateo Bajamich | FW | 22 | Huracán | Loaned for remainder of 2022 season. |
| March 9, 2022 | Nico Lemoine | FW | 21 | Oakland Roots | Loaned for remainder of 2022 season. Recalled on April 26. |
| June 23, 2022 | Ian Hoffmann | DF | 20 | Orange County SC | Loaned for remainder of 2022 season. |

### MLS SuperDraft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Age | College | Notes |
| 1 | 4 | Thorleifur Úlfarsson | FW | 21 | Duke | Signed to a Generation Adidas contract. |
| 2 | 32 | Paulo Lima | MF | 23 | Providence | Signed with Houston Dynamo 2 |
| 2 | 39 | Arturo Ordoñez | DF | 24 | Pittsburgh | Signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. |

## Coaching staff

    As of September 6, 2022
| Position | Name |
| Interim Head Coach | Kenny Bundy |
| Interim Assistant Coach | Daniel Roberts |
| Interim Assistant Coach | Roy Lassiter |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Zach Thornton |
| Head of Performance | Paul Caffrey |
| Video Analyst | James Routledge |
| Scouting Coordinator/Analyst | Sebastian Romero |
| Head Athletic Trainer | Casey Carlson |
| Assistant Athletic Trainer | Steven Patera |
| Assistant Athletic Trainer | Joel Lockhart |
| Head Physical Therapist | Nathan Hironymous |
| Massage Therapist | Ivan Diaz |
| Head of Sports Science | Alex Calder |
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Anthony Narcisi |
| Dietician | Brett Singer |
| Director of Team Administration | Cesar Martinez |
| Team Operations Coordinator | Alejandro Vega |
| Head Equipment Manager | Eddie Cerda |
| Assistant Equipment Manager | Shane Maxwell |
| Chief Medical Officer/Primary Care Physician | Dr. Rehal Bhojani |
| Head Orthopedic Surgeon | Dr. Walter Lowe |
| Team Orthopedic Physician | Dr. Evan Meeks |

## Competitions
### Major League Soccer
#### Standings
##### Western Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 10 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 46 | 57 | −11 | 43 |
| 11 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 12 | 17 | 5 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 41 |
| 12 | Sporting Kansas City | 34 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 42 | 54 | −12 | 40 |
| 13 | Houston Dynamo FC | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 36 |
| 14 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 52 | 69 | −17 | 35 |

##### Overall

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 23 | Atlanta United FC | 34 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 48 | 54 | −6 | 40 |
| 24 | Chicago Fire FC | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 39 |
| 25 | Houston Dynamo FC | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 36 |
| 26 | San Jose Earthquakes | 34 | 8 | 15 | 11 | 52 | 69 | −17 | 35 |
| 27 | Toronto FC | 34 | 9 | 18 | 7 | 49 | 66 | −17 | 34 |
* ↑ Canadian clubs cannot qualify for the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League through the MLS regular season or playoffs.

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Stadium | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H |
| Result | D | L | W | D | W | W | D | L | L | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | W | L | L | L | L | D | L | W | L | D | W | L | W | L |
| Position (conf.) | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Position (league) | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 |

#### Match results
### U.S. Open Cup
## Season statistics
### Appearances, goals, assists, and cards

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS | MLS | Open Cup | Open Cup | Open Cup | Open Cup | Open Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | G | A | | | Apps | G | A | | | Apps | G | A | | |
| 2 | DF | | Daniel Steres | 19 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | | Adam Lundqvist | 31 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 31 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | | Zarek Valentin | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | | Tim Parker | 29 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | | Thiago Fernandes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | | Memo Rodríguez | 33 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | | Sebastián Ferreira | 32 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | | Fafà Picault | 32 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | | Corey Baird | 25 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | | Steve Clark | 33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | | Ethan Bartlow | 17 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | | Héctor Herrera | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | | Teenage Hadebe | 23 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | | Nico Lemoine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | | Tyler Pasher | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | | Adalberto Carrasquilla | 33 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 32 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | | Derrick Jones | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | | Nelson Quiñónes | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | | Matías Vera | 29 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | | Darwin Quintero | 32 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 31 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | | Darwin Cerén | 30 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | | Griffin Dorsey | 29 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | GK | | Michael Nelson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | | Marcelo Palomino | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | | Sam Junqua | 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | | Ian Hoffmann | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | | Juan Castilla | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | FW | | Danny Ríos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | FW | | Thorleifur Úlfarsson | 33 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | FW | | Brooklyn Raines | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | | Zeca | 21 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | GK | | Xavier Valdez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | FW | | Beto Avila | 11 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 57 | DF | | Micael | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Player Stats and match reports in Competitions
* 1 2 Loaned out during the season
* 1 2 3 Transferred out during the season
* ↑ Short term loan from Houston Dynamo 2

### Clean sheets

| No. | Nat. | Player | MLS | Open Cup | Total |
| 12 | | Steve Clark | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 26 | | Michael Nelson | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | 6 | 1 | 7 |
Source: Player Stats and match reports in Competitions

## Honors and awards
### MLS Player of the Week

| Week | Player | Opponent | Statistics | Ref. |
| 13 | Sebastián Ferreira | LA Galaxy | 1 goal and 2 assists | |

### MLS Goal of the Week

| Week | Player | Opponent | Date | Ref. |
| 9 | Sebastián Ferreira | Austin FC | April 30 | |

### MLS Team of the Week

| Week | Player | Position |
| 3 | Darwin Quintero | MF |
| 5 | Fafà Picault | FW |
| 6 | Sebastián Ferreira | FW |
| 11 | Adalberto Carrasquilla | Bench |
| 13 | Sebastián Ferreira | FW |
| 13 | Steve Clark | Bench |
| 16 | Adam Lundqvist | DF |
| 19 | Teenage Hadebe | DF |
| 21 | Tim Parker | DF |
| 28 | Steve Clark | GK |
| 28 | Adalberto Carrasquilla | MF |
| 28 | Tim Parker | Bench |
| 28 | Paulo Nagamura | Coach |
| 31 | Fafà Picault | MF |
| 31 | Corey Baird | Bench |
| 33 | Sebastián Ferreira | FW |